Welcome! Check out today's deaths, recent deaths, or our deaths stats.
Feeling experimental? Head on over to our newest (and darkest) feature: Next-2-Die™ predictions
In the year 1972
601 Notable deaths
Edward VIII
King of the united kingdom and the british dominions, and emperor of india in 1936.
Born June 23rd, 1894 in White Lodge. [ref]
Died May 28th, 1972 at 77 years old in 16th arrondissement of Paris (laryngeal cancer). [ref]
Harry S. Truman
President of the united states from 1945 to 1953; politician (1884–1972).
Died December 26th, 1972 at 88 years old in Kansas City (pneumonia, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome).
Jackie Robinson
American baseball player (1919–1972).
Born January 31st, 1919 in Cairo.
Died October 24th, 1972 at 53 years old in Stamford (myocardial infarction).
J. Edgar Hoover
American law enforcement administrator (1895–1972).
Born January 1st, 1895 in Washington, D.C..
Died May 2nd, 1972 at 77 years old in Washington, D.C. (respiratory failure).
Ip Man
Hong kong martial artist (1893–1972).
Born October 1st, 1893 in Foshan.
Died December 2nd, 1972 at 79 years old in British Hong Kong (head and neck cancer).
Prithviraj Kapoor
Indian actor (1906-1972).
Born November 3rd, 1906 in Faisalabad.
Died May 29th, 1972 at 65 years old in Mumbai (cancer).
Roberto Clemente
Puerto rican baseball player (1934–1972).
Born August 18th, 1934 in Italy.
Died December 31st, 1972 at 38 years old in San Juan (falling from height).
Dan Blocker
American actor (1928–1972).
Born December 10th, 1928 in Bowie County.
Died May 13th, 1972 at 43 years old in Los Angeles (pulmonary embolism).
Neilia Hunter
American teacher and first wife of joe biden (1942–1972).
Born July 28th, 1942 in Skaneateles.
Died December 18th, 1972 at 30 years old in Hockessin (traffic collision). [ref]
Meena Kumari
Indian actress and poet (1933-1972).
Born August 1st, 1933 in Dadar.
Died March 31st, 1972 at 38 years old in Mumbai (liver cirrhosis).
Ezra Pound
American poet and critic (1885–1972).
Born October 30th, 1885 in Hailey.
Died November 1st, 1972 at 87 years old in Venice (gastrointestinal system disease).
Kwame Nkrumah
Ghanaian politician (1909–1972).
Born September 21st, 1909 in Nkroful. [ref]
Died April 27th, 1972 at 62 years old in Bucharest (skin cancer, prostate cancer). [ref]
George Sanders
British actor (1906–1972).
Born July 3rd, 1906 in Saint Petersburg.
Died April 25th, 1972 at 65 years old in Castelldefels (drug overdose).
M. C. Escher
Dutch graphic artist (1898–1972).
Born June 17th, 1898 in Leeuwarden. [ref]
Died March 27th, 1972 at 73 years old in Laren. [ref]
Prescott Bush
American politician and us senator from connecticut (1895-1972).
Born May 15th, 1895 in Columbus.
Died October 8th, 1972 at 77 years old in New York City (lung cancer).
Mahalia Jackson
American gospel singer (1911–1972).
Born October 26th, 1911 in New Orleans.
Died January 27th, 1972 at 60 years old in Evergreen Park (heart disease).
Prince William of Gloucester
Elder son of prince henry, duke of gloucester, and princess alice, duchess of gloucester (1941–1972).
Born December 18th, 1941 in Hadley Common.
Died August 28th, 1972 at 30 years old in Wolverhampton Airport (aviation accident).
C. Rajagopalachari
Indian politician and activist (1878–1972).
Born December 10th, 1878 in Thorapalli.
Died December 25th, 1972 at 94 years old in Chennai.
Gustav Schwarzenegger
Austrian police chief and father of arnold schwarzenegger (1907–1972).
Born August 17th, 1907 in Austria–Hungary.
Died December 13th, 1972 at 65 years old in Weiz (cerebrovascular disease).
Saul Alinsky
American community organizer and writer (1909–1972).
Born January 30th, 1909 in Chicago.
Died June 12th, 1972 at 63 years old in Carmel-by-the-Sea (myocardial infarction).
Moe Berg
Baseball player, spy (1902–1972).
Born March 2nd, 1902 in Harlem.
Died May 30th, 1972 at 70 years old in Belleville (falling from height).
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
American baptist pastor and politician (1908–1972).
Born November 29th, 1908 in New Haven.
Died April 4th, 1972 at 63 years old in Miami.
Brandon deWilde
American stage and film actor (1942-1972).
Born April 9th, 1942 in Brooklyn.
Died July 6th, 1972 at 30 years old in Lakewood (traffic collision).
Cristóbal Balenciaga
Spanish fashion designer (1895-1972).
Born January 21st, 1895 in Getaria.
Died March 23rd, 1972 at 77 years old in Xàbia.
Deaths 1 to 25 of 601
Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation. Rumi